One of the long-term risks related with implants is a condition called peri-implantitis. This disease basically affects implants in the same way that periodontitis affects natural teeth. It causes inflammation of the gums and bone that surround the placed implant, resulting in resorption of the bone that retains the implant.
The main cause of peri-implantitis is poor oral hygiene. If we do not comply with the dental
care routine guidelines, dental plaque and calculus will appear between the gums and the
implant, resulting in infection of the surrounding tissues. Another cause is the presence of
periodontal disease in other teeth, from where bacteria move and contaminate the implant.
Smoking is also another risk factor.
The symptoms of the disease, depending on its stage, are:
For peri-implantitis treatment, we use a combination of deep teeth cleaning and antiseptic
agents, so that we may eradicate the infection of the tissue and implant. But, of course,
prevention is always better than cure. This is why we must always be very meticulous in our
every day oral hygiene routine, and to have regular checks at the dental practice. The sooner
we detect the problem, the easier it is to treat it.